Mechanical device for the reading and storing of the working positions of a moving machine element



. e 1959 H. GROTTRUP 2,890,30

MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR THE READING AND STORING OF THE WORKING POSITIONS OF A MOVING MACHINE ELEMENT Filed March 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HINVENTOR H. GAfOTTEl/P BY ATTOR EY June 9, 1959 H GRaTTRUP 2,890,301

MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR THE READING AND STORING OF THE WORKING POSITIONS OF A MOVING MACHINE ELEMENT Filed March 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. lb.

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ATTORNEY H. GRCSTTRUP THE June 9, 1959 WORKING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR READING AND STORING OF THE POSITIONS OF A MOVING MACHINE ELEMENT Filed March 25, 1958 "INVENTOR l7. G/POTTEl/P ATTORNEY United Sttes MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR THE READING STORING OF THE WORKING POsITIONs OF A MOVING MACHINE ELEMENT Helmut Grottrup, Birkenfeld, Wurttemberg, Germany,

assignor to International Standard Electric Corpora- Y 'tion, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware The present invention relates to a device for the reading of the Working positions of a moving machine element. In technical engineering work there often arises the problem of ascertaining the working positions of a machine element; one of the most well-known examples in this respect is the ascertainment of the just actuated printing types in modern booking or computing machines for the purpose of duplicating or any other storing of the text.

In our copending application Serial No. 691,589, filed October 22, 1957, we have shown a mechanical device for the reading and storing of the working positions of a moving machine element, in particular of the positions of a type carrier in booking, computing and similar machines of this type.

According to the said application a template is provided which is either directly or indirectly connected with the moving machine element, and which is so designed that there can be represented in it the different or various positions of the machine element in any desirable selectable code, as well as mechanical means for determining and storing the code combination corresponding to the respective position to be read. The code conversion by means of the template can be advantageously effected in that in the template there are provided several slots which, are provided at their one edgewith one or more indents or notches, so that, with respect to a plurality of reference lines, the number of different combinations of the notches of several slots corresponding to the number of different working positions of the respective machine element will result. By means of this arrangement the reading means are so designed and cooperate in such a way with the templates that the combination of notches corresponding to the setting of the machine element is determined by the setting of the machine element itself.

' The template in the application above referred to is provided with five slots and is used with a figure type bar having ten different setting positions. These slots contain a number of notches such that a different combination of two notches in two slots will result for each position of the type bar.

The scanning of the individual combination is eifectedwith the aid of transversely movable slides arranged above one another, each of which is provided with a rigidly connected plug projecting into the slot of the template. Owing to the fact that the slides are arranged on top of each other and the slots next to each other, the plugs of the slides may be aligned with each other when in the normal position in a straight line, so that the combinations of notches to be read are lying on a straight line extending in parallel with this imaginary straight line. Hence the setting of the combinations to be read in the template is effected by the movement of the type bar or type rod itself.

The reading means for the notch combinations are designed in such a way that with the aid of these means atent there is also elfected a storing of the read position, in the course of which a new setting of the machine element is possible without requiring the erasing of the stored po sition. This is accomplished in that the transversal move ment ofthe slides with the associated plugs between the edges of the slots is possible for all slides in common, and further that there is possible a relative additional reciprocal movement of the slides in the direction of the notches as the plugs move from the notch-side edge of the slots into the notches, and in that the relative movement or displacement is retained. The scanning of the notch combinations and the fixing of the reciprocal positions of the slides subsequently to the scanning can be appropriately achieved by means of resting rods which are compulsorily moved forwardly and backwardly and are arranged above each other, and which rods are adapted to effect the transversal movements of the slides, but which, can also be moved in either direction without moving the slides by engaging recesses in the slides in which they are permitted to occupy two stop positions at a spaced relation of about the depth of the notches.

The particular advantages of the device referred to above are that by means of one single template the po sitions of the machine element can be read, can be converted into any suitable code, and can be mechanically stored, without effecting the following or subsequent movements of the machine element, and that positions, if so desired, can also be sent forward electrically, and in that there are required substantially less contacts than with the conventional devices heretofore used. Apart therefrom the arrangement can be designed and embodied in a very narrow space, so as to permit many templates to be arranged next to each other in a small space. Furtheradvantages reside in the possibility of permitting the employment of any suitable code, so that, if so required, reading of a great number of positions may be affected further in low cost, low susceptibility to interferences, simple maintenance, and in the fact that the attachment of the templates does not cause any alterations of the machine.

Based on the attainable or required tolerances and the width of the slots which consequently results, the five necessary slots call for a definite width of the templates, which has a decisive effect upon the weight of the templates. In many cases, however, it is desirable to keep the weight of the templates as low as possible.

For reducing the weight of the templates, it is therefore proposed, in accordance with the present inventron, to provide templates comprising respectively less kerfed or notched slots than would correspond to the number of code elements, as well as several variable slides of which at least one cooperates with several slots, and to arrange the kerfs or notches in such a manner that an ambiguous representation of the settings within a determinable code may be produced at a suitable num ber of slides.

For the reading and the storing of the positions of a figure type pallet having ten different setting possibilities, a template may be provided having two slots, and five slides may be arranged, one above the other, in a space corresponding to that occupied by the types or characters on the type pallet. The slides are displaceable, two at a time transversely of the direction of the slots, and one, at least, e.g. the top one, cooperates with both slots by being provided with an additional plug engaging the second slot. The slots are provided with kerfs or notches such that, with respect to each of the ten difierent positions of the type pallet, two of the slides may change over into their second position. Hence a code conversion into a 2 out of 5 code is also effected.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. la is a schematic representation of part of a bookkeeping machine equipped with the reading device of the invention;

Fig. lb is a plan view of the portion of the machine of Fig la at the left of the line C-D of that figure;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the template of Fig. la with the machine element raised to the number five position and with the slides operated;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the template raised to its uppermost position; corresponding to the number 9 position; and

Fig. 4 is a table indicating the positions of the slides for the various positions of the type bar and attached template.

In the book-keeping machine there are provided several vertically displaceable type bars 11. One of these bars is shown in detail in Fig. 1a of the drawings. The vertical movement of this type bar may be accomplished e.g. via the rack 40 that is firmly connected therewith and the pinion gear 41 that meshes with it. The toothed wheel of pinion 41 is rotated by the type keys of the bookkeeping machine in such a manner that the type bar is lifted so as to bring the respective type into the printing position. The hammer 42 will then hit this type against the platen 43 over which the sheet of printing or message paper is led. The operations which are being carried out in the book-keeping machine, such as also the returning of the type bar subsequently to the printing process, however, do not form part of the subject matter of this invention, and, therefore, need not be further described herein.

The template 12 is attached to the type bar 11 by means of the rack 40, so that it will follow the movement of the type bar. Two parallel slots 13 and 13 are provided in the template and extend in the direction of movement thereof. The slot 13 is longer than the slot 13' and contains four notches 14 of different length, while the slot 13 contains two elongated notches 14, one of which overlaps one of the notches 14 while the other overlaps another of the notches 14 and a portion of a second one.

In order to eifect this 2-out-of-5 code, five slides 16 are mounted, one above the other, for limited longitudinal, reciprocating movement in a suitable supporting frame 16', the slides being perpendicular to the direction of movement of the template 12. Each of the slides carries a pin or plug which extends outwardly from the side thereof, these plugs being positioned in alignment and extending into the slot 13. The uppermost slide is provided with a second plug 15' which extends into the slot 13'.

When the slides are in their normal position, the plugs 15 lie against the right side of the slot 13 and the plug 15 lies against the right side of the slot 13, as shown in Fig. 1a.

With the arrangement shown, the template may be moved into any one of ten positions, corresponding to the alignment of the ten figure types with the printing position; to produce ten different combinations in which two of the slides are permitted to move to the left far enough to have their plugs 15 and 15' enter the notches 14 and 14. Thus a different 2-out-of-5 code combination will represent each printing position. Other suitable code conversions may be obtained by properly designing the slots and notches in the template.

After the type rod has been brought into the printing position, its position is also defined by the corresponding combination of the notches with respect to the plugs 15, and 15', so that this combination may also now be read for identifying or determining .the respective printing type. This is accomplished with the aid of the slides 16, which are moved to and fro, and are capable of occupying two final 01' end positions. The movement of the slides is efrected by the action of the eccentric 17 and the common guide bar 18 which carries the vertically aligned stop rods 20, one for each slide engaging the vertically aligned recesses 19 in the edges of the slides 16. Above the recess 19 of each slide a stop spring 21 is arranged projecting with its nose or actuator 22 into the recess. With respect to the stop spring 21, the stop rods are adapted to assume two different positions, namely on the left or the right of the actuator 22.

In Fig. 1b of the drawings a sectional plan view of the device to the left of the line CD is shown, from which there will easily be seen the drive for the guide bars or links 18. The eccentric 17 is driven by the motor 44 via the shaft 45 and the clutch 46. On the eccentric shaft there are arranged several links 18, the number of which corresponds to the number of type bars 11 employed in the book-keeping machine. The shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearings 47.

The eccentric 17 is designed in such a way and, upon the setting of the type rod, is turned in such a way that the guide bar 18 is moved at first towards the right, i.e. towards the non-interrupted edges of the slots 13 and 13'. Fig. la shows the eccentric 17 in this position in which it has moved all the links 18 to their furthermost position to the right. In this position, all the stop rods or bolts 20 are pressed against the right edges of the recesses 19 and the plugs 15 and 15' are against the non-interrupted edges of their corresponding slots. In this condition all the slides are aligned in their neutral position.

When the eccentric 17 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the guide bars 18 are moved towards the left and all the slides are moved in that direction by the actuators'22 of the springs 21. At this time the pins 15 of the lower three slides are against the left side of the slot 13, but the pins of the two upper slides are aligned with notches so that they are free to move farther to the left.

When the eccentric rotates 90 more in the direction of the arrow, these two upper slides move to the left but the rods 20 of the lower three slides pass under the actuators 22 without moving the slides, since these slides are prevented from moving by the pins 15 against the left edges of the slot. The guide bars 18 are then in the extreme left position. The position of the slides now represents the position of the type bar in a 2-out-of-5 code.

When the eccentric rotates an additional 90, the guide bars are moved towards the right to the mid point of their reciprocating travel. At this point the pins 15 and 15' of the upper two slides are aligned with the left edges of the slots 13 and 13', while the pins of the three lower slides are against the right edge of the slot 13. In this position, the template is free to move to a new position of the type bar without disturbing the setting of the slides. This provides the storage facility, so that the machine can prepare for printing another number while the identity of the preceding one is being recorded.

Upon the rotation of the eccentric the last 90 to restore it to the position shown in Fig. la, all the pins 15 and 15' move against the right edges of the slots 13 and 13', those of the lower three slides reaching their associated edge first, whereupon the slides are stopped and their rods 20 ride under the spring actuators 22 as the guide bar 18 carrying them continues to move. The device is now ready for another recording.

Fig. 4 is a table showing the positions of the slides for various settings of the type bar.

Fig. 2 shows the type bar 11 raised to the position for printing the number 5 and with the eccentric 17 rotated so that the guide bar 18 is in its extreme left position. It will be seen that the slides number 2 and 5 have been shifted to the left. Although the plug 15 of the first slide is opposite a notch in the slot 13, there is no notch aligned with the plug 15 in the slot 13. Hence the plug 15 stops at the left edge of the slot and prevents the first slide from moving farther to the left. The rods 20 engaging the slides which are thus stopped, ride under the associated spring actuators 2.2.

Fig. 3 shows the type bar in its 9th position with the guide bar at its mid point after the slides have been set. It will be seen that slides 1 and 3 are set to the left of the others.

In all settings of the type bar except that for Fig. 5, the five slides co-operate with the slot 15. In the fifth position of the type bar, however, the plug 15' of the first slide will act against the left edge of the slot 13 at its narrowest point to prevent the slide from moving all the way to the left.

As has been stated, the storing is not erased by the vertical movement of the templates. For any new initial positions of the type'bars, the storage of the preceding positions of the type bars will be maintained in the slides. When a new setting of the type bars is to be read, then the described reading or scanning process will :be repeated. With respect to all prints that are not supposed to be read, the template may be moved freely, without affecting the storage of the slides in any Way.

The starting of the eccentric rotation is effected via the clutch 46 which may be controlled by the action of a relay (not shown). The contacts of this relay are actuated by the elements adapted to effect the setting of the type bars. The clutch is automatically disengaged again after one full rotation of the eccentric.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical device for the reading and storing of the working positions of a moving machine element comprising a template connected to the machine element for movement in a predetermined path which represents the path of movement of said element, said predetermined path including a plurality of positions which represent the difierent operating positions of said machine element, a plurality of slides mounted for limited longitudinal movement transverse to the movement of said template and arranged side by side in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said template, said slides being capable of occupying two end positions, a plurality of slots in said template extending in the direction of the path of move ment thereof, there being a lesser number of slots than there are slides and each slot having at least one notch in a corresponding edge of said slot, so that with respect to a plurality of reference lines corresponding to the number of working positions of said machine element a number of difierent combinations of the notches of said slots will result, a first plug rigidly connected to certain of said slides and projecting into one of said slots, a second plug rigidly connected to at least one of said slides and projecting into the other of said slots, said plugs being adapted to move into the notches in said slots during movement of said slides when the plugs are aligned with said notches, the combination of notches to be read lying 6 in parallel straight lines parallel to an imaginary straight line connecting the plugs of the slides in the normal or initial position, and means for moving said slides in both directions longitudinally thereof.

2. A mechanical device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising common means for resiliently urging all the slides, first towards one edge of the slots and then towards the other edge, whereby each slide having plugs aligned with notches in the cooperating slots are moved farther in the direction of the notches as the plugs enter the notches.

3. A mechanical device, as claimed in claim 2, in which the common means for urging the slides comprises means for first moving them in the direction away from the notches for a sufficient distance to permit the plugs in the notches to move out of the notches while maintaining the setting of the slides, whereby the relative displacement of said slides is maintained until the next successive operation of said common means takes place.

4. A mechanical device, as claimed in claim 3, in which the common means for urging the slides comprises a plurality of stop rods, one for each slide, each slide having means for permitting limited relative movement between said slide and its associated stop rod, means for moving said stop rods in unison, first in one direction and then the other, longitudinally of said slides so as to effect the transverse movement of said slides and spring means for holding each stop rod in one or the other of its extreme positions of relative movement, whereby the plugs may be moved in both directions with out taking along the slides, and wherein one cycle of said means for moving said stop rods includes one complete movement of said stop rods in each direction.

5. A mechanical device, as claimed in claim 4, in which the means for permitting limited movement between each slide and its associated stop rod comprises a recess in each slide engaged by said rod, and the holding means comprises a stop spring projecting into said recess and against which said stop rod meets during its movement and thus eifects a movement of the said slide until a plug of said slide meets the left-hand or right-hand edge O'f its associated slot, the tension of said spring being overcome by the stop rod in the course of its further movement, so that it is capable of jumping over into the other or opposite stop position.

6. A mechanical device, as claimed in claim 5, in which the common means for moving the slides comprises a guide bar and an eccentric operatively connected therewith to eifect a reciprocating movement in said guide bar in the longitudinal direction of said slides, the stop rods being rigidly mounted on said guide bar.

7. A mechanical device, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of contacts mounted in the path of the slides, which contacts, depending on the final position of the slides, are either opened or closed by said slides, so that transmission of the stored information regarding the positions of the machine element is rendered possible.

No references cited. 

